Pin spotter for miniature bowling games



Jan. 20, 1953 R. G. LOWRY 2,626,154

PIN SPOTTER FOR MINIATURE BOWLING GAMES W v \N 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 9, 1951 R w WA 0 2: L a M Jan. 20, 1953 LOWRY PIN SPOTTER FOR MINIATURE BOWLING GAMES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 9, 1951 IN VEiVTOR= R 0450-10-7 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 1953 Raymond G. Lowry, Pontiac, Mich.

Application March 9, 1951, Serial No. 214,755

1 Claim. (Cl. 27346) This invention relates to a miniature bowling game.

An object of this invention is to provide a miniature bowling game which simulates the full size game and provides for the exercise of skill in the play thereof in addition to amusement.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved pin spotter whereby the pins may be quickly and accurately set up in proper position.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed. out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a miniature bowling alley constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view partly broken away of the device.

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation of the pro jector in set position.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the projector in ball releasing position.

Figure 5 is fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the pin spotter guide.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the base for the projector.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I5 designates generally a flat alley member over which a ball is adapted to be rolled. The alley member |5 as shown in Figure 2 is rectangular in plan and is formed along the opposite longitudinal edges thereof with grooves I6 constituting gutters. The rear end of the alley member I5 has extending therefrom a pit generally designated as H.

The pit I1 is formed of a flat bottom member I8 which is inset in the rear end of the alley I5 at a point below the upper surface of member I5. A pair of upstanding side walls I9 and 20 are secured to the bottom wall I8 and project above the surface of the alley member I5 and a rear wall 2| is secured to the side walls I9 and 20 and is formed with a groove 22 within which the pit bottom member I8 is adapted to engage. The side member 20 is formed with a downwardly curved forward end or extension 23 having a groove therein which merges with an upper groove 24 carried by a ball return guide 25 secured along one longitudinal edge of the alley member I5.

The ball return guide 25 extends rearwardly and merges with an upwardly offset grooved ball retaining or holding guide 26 having a stop 21 at the rear thereof. A pin spotter generally designated as 28 is slidably and adjustably carried by the side members l9 and 2|) and comprises a plate 29 of generally triangular configuration having openings 30 arranged in the conventional manner in which the bowling pins 3| are conventionally set up on the upper side of the alley member I5.

The spotter 28 includes a pair of oppositely disposed extensions 32 to which an inverted U-shaped handle 33 is secured. The vertical legs 34 of the handle 33 are slidable in vertically disposed guide grooves 35 formed in the inner sides of the side members I9 and 20, and preferably the grooves 35 are inclined to the vertical being inclined upwardly and inwardly so as to frictionally bind on the legs 30 when the pin spotter 28 is raised upwardly to inoperative position.

The inclining of the grooves 35 will provide a means whereby the pin spotter will be frictionally held in an inoperative position, but may be lowered to a pin spotting position by applying slight pressure to the handle 33. In the playing of the game a figurine generally designated as 36 is pivotally mounted on the rear of the alley member I5 and is constructed in the form of a person having one leg 31 extended forwardly and the other leg 38 extended rearwardly. The figurine 36 is fixedly secured to an elongated base plate 33 which is pivotally secured to the rear of the alley member I5 by means of a pivot member passing through an opening 40 which is formed in the forward portion of the base member 39.

The figurine includes an arm 4| which is pivotally mounted on a bolt or pivot member 42 extended through the arm 3| and secured in the body 43. A coil spring 44 is connected between the arm 4| and the body 43 and provides a resilient means constantly urging the arm 4| to swing downwardly and forwardly to a ball projecting position. A ball 45 is adapted to engage in a concave socket 46 formed in the outer end of the arm 4|, and the ball 45 is releasably held in the socket 46 by means of a spring 41.

The outer end of the arm 4| has extending therefrom an apertured lug 48 with which a cord 49 engages so that the arm 4| may be pulled upwardly and rearwardly to substantially the position shown in Figure 3. When the cord 49 is released spring 44 will swing arm 4| downwardly and forwardly with ball 45 :beingresiliently held in socket 46 by means of the spring 41. When the arm 4| reaches substantially the bottom of the swinging movement thereof the lower end or hand portion 50 of arm 4| will strike a laterally projecting stop member 5| which is carried by the base 39.

As shown-in FigureQ the base 39 is pivotally secured to the rear of the alley member |5 by means of a pivot screw or bolt 52.

In the playing of the game the pins 3| are extended through the openings'30 in pin spotting plate 29. At the time the pins are extended through the openings 30 in plate 29'thelatter will be pressed downwardly to a position slightly above the upper side of alley member |5.

When the pins have been extended through the openings 30 the pinsetter or spotter 28 may be raised upwardlyby means of the handle 33 to an upper inoperativeposition above the upper ends of the bowling pins 3|. The ball 45 is insertedin the socket 46 and retained therein by means of the spring 41. Arm 4| is then raised upwardly by grasping the cord49, and upon release of cord 49 spring-44 will swing arm 4| downwardly and forwardly until thehand member 50 strikes the stop or abutment member 5|.

The sudden stopping of the forward swinging movement of arm 4| will cause ball member 45 to be released from socket 46, and ball member 45 will then be projected forwardly along the surface of .alley I5 toward thebowlin .pins 3|.

The direction of the,projection of ball member 45 may be regulated by adjusting theangular position ,of base member 39 with'respect to the length of alley I5. In playing the game .one hand may hold the base member 39 in the properlyaimed position, and the other hand may raise arm 4| upwardly to aspring tensioning position so as to provide for the projection of the ball 45 when arm 4| strikes stop or abutment member 4. 5|. The pins which are knocked down by the ball 45 may be moved rearwardly into the pit l1, and the ball may be returned by setting the ball on the rear guide member 23 so that the ball may roll downwardly with sufiicient momentum to cause the ball to roll along the full length of guide groove 24 and then rise upwardly onto the magazine rack or guide 26.

What is'claimed is:

A pin spottingdevicefor'a miniature bowling game which includes an elongated alley, said device comprising a pair of vertical side wall members, oppositely disposed, one on each side of one end of said alley, a pair of vertical oppositely aligned upwardly convergent guide grooves, one'in-eachxside wall, an apertured pin spotting plate having oppositely extending lugs on the sides thereof adjacent said guide grooves, semicircular grooves in the ends of said lugs, an inverted U-shaped handle'of circular cross section and of resilient material having its opposite legs fixed in said semi-circular grooves with a portion of the periphery of'said legs extending'beyond said lugs, said portion being slidable in said; guide grooves when said opposite legs are slidably engaged, theinclination of saidguidegrooves compressing said legs upon upward movement of said plate to hold said plate in an upper inoperative position above said alley.

RAYMOND G. LOWRQY.

REFERENCE S CIT-ED The following references are of record in-the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 'Name Date 887,399 Josephy .May 12,1908 1,324,386 DeClyne Dec. 9, .1919 1,432,752 Hanford Oct. 2.4, 1922 1,565,607 Waite Dec..:15, 1925 2,207,206 Sekretarski July 9, 19 40 2,525,906 Johnson Oct. 17, 1950 

